Mindful Eating Programs and Training

Mindful Eating Programs and Training

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About Am I Hungry?® Mindful Eating BED Therapist Training

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Comprehensive Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training

Am I Hungry? BED Training for licensed Masters and Doctorate level behavioral health professionals (or equivalent training and licensure in other countries)* and treatment teams who wish to offer a proven mindful eating program for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). 

BED treatment developed by an experienced team

The Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Program (AIH ME-BE) was co-created by Michelle May, M.D. and Kari Anderson, DBH, LPC, CEDS. Together, they have nearly 40 years of experience in mindful eating and eating disorder treatment. Download faculty bios and course objectives.

Provides necessary structure using the Mindful Eating Cycle

The content of this program is based on the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Cycle as described in Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Binge Eating: A Mindful Eating Program for Healing Your Relationship with Food and Your Body.

The Mindful Eating Cycle is a step-by-step decision-making tool that provides both the client and the therapist with the necessary structure to address problematic eating behaviors using a consistent thought process.

Clinically valid treatment that stops binge eating

The Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Program is a clinically valid treatment shown to stop binge eating. For her doctorate at Arizona State University, Kari Anderson, DBH, LPC, CEDS, the co-creator of the Am I Hungry?

Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Program, conducted research that found that a ten week mindfulness-based treatment for Binge Eating Disorder using the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Cycle was effective for eliminating binge eating, decreasing psychological distress, and improving health behaviors.[1] Read the research abstract: The Mindful Eating Cycle: Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder. One-year follow-up publication is pending; preliminary results shows that the outcomes were sustained for the majority of the participants.

Mindfulness-based therapeutic model for BED

AIH ME-BE program draws on strategies from CBT and mindfulness-based therapeutic methods, such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which have been shown to be effective for treating binge eating disorder. Mindfulness-based strategies are used to target affect regulation, counteract dissociation from emotional awareness, and slow the impulsive nature of binge eating.

Encourages autonomous eating regulation

Unlike traditional eating disorder treatments which typically attempt to control eating with prescribed meal plans and structured eating times, Am I Hungry? addresses the motivational dynamics of eating regulation based on Self-Determinism Theory of behavior change. This intrinsic approach seeks to guide clients to master the internal physical and emotional drivers and the external environmental forces they encounter, leading to more sustainable results.

Consistent with a Health at Every Size® paradigm

30% of obese individuals seeking weight loss suffer from BED. Due to the extreme weight stigma in our culture, bingeing behavior and associated obesity evoke strong feelings of shame. Programs that focus on food intake and weight loss tend to have high attrition rates, further complicating the course of BED.

Am I Hungry? is a weight neutral intervention with the goals of resolving binge eating and improving overall well being. While participants may lose weight, weight change is viewed as a possible side-effect of healing the relationship with food, rather than the primary reason to seek treatment.

Flexible BED treatment delivery options

The Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating (AIH ME-BE) program format is typically 10 weeks in length with two sessions a week consisting of an interactive group psychoeducational workshop and small group (or individual) therapy. Other program formats (such as IOP) are explored during training.  (Program format details provided in the Training Information Packet; download from the right sidebar.)

The program may be offered by an individual therapist or a team of eating disorder professionals. However, only licensed behavioral health professionals can conduct the small group or individual therapy sessions. Other eating disorder professionals, such as a registered dietitian or nurse, may be trained to facilitate the psychoeducational workshops as part of a team in an office setting, intensive outpatient treatment program (IOP), or eating disorder treatment center.

Comprehensive BED treatment training

Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training consists of four modules which incorporate a variety of learning formats: audio recordings of the psychoeducational sessions and group therapy sessions, educational webinars, and live Case Consultations. Training also includes a comprehensive Therapist Guide and business and marketing materials. Watch this video about the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training process or read more about the training format and what is included.

Download the course objectives and faculty bios.

Turnkey BED treatment program

We provide everything you need to offer a comprehensive Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Program so you can focus your time reaching those who need help. 

More Information

Online training NOW available! Please fill out the form on the right to download details and registration links.

Why Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training?

Watch this video about the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training process.

What is included and how do I get started?

Can I earn continuing education credits for this training?

What do other health and wellness professionals say about Am I Hungry? training?

More Details and Registration: Fill out the form in the sidebar to download the complete Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training Packet. This packet has all the details you’ll need including FAQs and registration links.

Train with Us Home

* Important! Therapy sessions can only be conducted by a licensed Masters or Doctorate level behavioral health professional, or those who have an Intern, Associate, or Trainee License in the United States, or equivalent training and licensure in other countries. Examples include psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, etc. Therapists pursuing independent licensure while working under a supervisor’s license are also permitted.


[1]  Anderson, K., & May, M. (2012). The Mindful Eating Cycle: Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder. Arizona State University, Doctor of Behavioral Health, Culminating Project.

Mindful Eating for Binge Eating

Therapist Training Packet

Information packet about Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Training

In Their Words...

Where should we send your download access?

Complete the form below and we’ll send the Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Facilitator Training Packet.